Love Letter To Mom: Happy Mother's Day, Mary

OAK CREEK, WI — She's the one that loved you first, but mom is much more than that. She’s a friend, a teacher, a counselor, a shoulder to cry on — and maybe one of the toughest women you’ve ever met.

We asked Patch readers in more than 1,000 communities to tell us what their moms mean to them. Nearly 200 people responded, paying tribute not just to moms but sometimes to grandmas, sisters and daughters who deserve recognition for Mother’s Day 2021.

Here’s what Jennifer ceparski of Oak creek had to say about mom Mary of Milwaukee :

Mom, There’s so much you’ve done for me, said to me to encourage me, or just spent hours talking to me. We’ve spent endless hours laughing with each other, And I know despite all the hundreds of hours we’ve spent with each other doing these things, it will never be enough. From those days when I was three and you’d spend hours during dance class and recitals watching me do “shuffle ball change” over and over, to my senior year band solos you were so proud of. Watching me graduate nursing school and the times you’ve watched me take care of grandma and yourself and the look of pride on your face made my heart melt. From the days we’ve spent hours straight laughing until we cried to the days you spent at my beside through all my surgeries and hospital stays where you were there to hold my hand and make me laugh or wipe away the tears. You’ve always been there to make me smile, laugh or bring me a new blanket or stuffed animal while I spent months in the hospital. I hope you know holding those items when you were away or just snuggling with them now when your in the other room, makes me feel like you’re right by my side and everything is going to be ok. Not a day, an hour, even a minute goes by that you’re not on my mind and I’m my heart. Even when we have an argument it doesn’t usually take but a few minutes for me to feel horrible and apologize. Most kids would say they could never imagine living with their mother in their 40’s and I can tell you without a doubt not a day goes by that I feel the exact opposite. I couldn’t imagine not having all this time we’ve had to make lasting memories forever. I know a part of it is the nurse in me knowing I’m close to help you and make sure you’re ok but the biggest part is living my days with my best friend by my side. I know these are all the memories I’ll cherish forever. Despite all the horrible things that have happened to me physically through the years, there’s still a silver lining. Had they not happened, yes my life would have looked very different. I would have been able to have my own family and the children I always dreamed of and grandchildren for you. Financially I would have been able to take care of you instead of you always being there if I’m in need. I would have continued to make you proud being the best nurse You always said I was and climbing the ranks to who knows where I’d be now. Now however, I get to be your personal nurse in good times and bad and I’ll continue to do that for god willing many many more years to come. I love you from sun up til sun down and all the minutes in between. No matter how many times we may get on each other’s nerves I’ll always be there for you and I know the same is true in your feelings for me. Not a second goes by that I don’t thank God for giving me the best mom a woman could ask for. I wish there were more I could do for you this Mother’s Day and every other. I still hope with prayer and advances in medical technology someday I’ll be able to go back to work so I can return all the favors you’ve done for me over the past 13+ years you’ve been there for me and not to mention help make both our Disney dreams come true. Until then we have so many good memories to reflect on and fantasy trips to plan all the time :-) Happy Mothers Day today and everyday. I love you from the bottom of my heart to the tip of my toes and then some. Love, and Jenn